MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for the month of December 2019. The data shows that Wisconsin added 9,800 total non-farm and 9,000 private-sector jobs in the month of December. Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate in December was 67.0 percent, and the state’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent.

Place of Residence Data: Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate in December was 67.0, 3.8 percent higher than the national rate of 63.2 percent. Wisconsin’s unemployment rate in December was 3.4 percent, 0.1 percent lower than the national rate of 3.5 percent.

Place of Work Data: Wisconsin added 9,000 private-sector and 9,800 total non-farm jobs from November 2019 to December 2019. From December 2018 to December 2019, Wisconsin added  8,600 private-sector jobs and 7,000 total non-farm jobs.

“Although the lack of available workers continues to be an impediment to economic growth in Wisconsin, the Evers Administration is wisely prioritizing solutions to fill openings, as well as provide greater economic opportunities to those already in the workforce,” DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman said. “Feeling sharp local impacts from tariffs and trade wars at the federal level, the employers successfully attracting and retaining quality talent are doing so with strong pay and benefits, collaboration with diverse economic stakeholders including schools, and with an eye toward inclusion. DWD is eager to continue partnering with the private sector to bolster Wisconsin’s economic growth in the years to come.”

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